Post date: Jan 16, 2013 3:12:57 PM
Eyewitnesses tell how a helicopter crashed into a crane in central London, killing two and injuring at least 11. Police say there is nothing to indicate terrorist activity.
LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JANUARY 16, 2013) (REUTERS) - A helicopter crashed into a crane on top of one of Europe's tallest residential blocks in central London on Wednesday (January 16), killing two people as it burst into flames and threw plumes of smoke into the foggy air.
Police said the helicopter, which was on a commercial flight to Elstree, home to famous British film studios in north London, but had been diverted to a heliport near the crash site. There were 11 casualties including two dead and one critically injured.The emergency services said the pilot was one of those killed and it was not thought anyone else was on board. The other fatality was found near the wreckage and the fire service said it had rescued a man from a burning car.
Eye witness Paul Robinson who worked in the area said he heard a loud thud and ran as soon as he saw debris falling.
"I was in my lorry at the time when the crane fell, I was basically underneath the boom. I'd gone and checked in, got back to the lorry, seen him go to check in, then I felt a thud at the back of the lorry - thought it was him - looked out the window, saw debris coming and I just run - very fast," he said.
Brick layer Tom Avis was a mere 100 metres away when the helicopter came crashing down.
"I was working, maybe 100 meters from the building," said Avis.
"We heard a big bang... looked up, saw the helicopter in the sky, crashing out of control, coming down; went behind a block of flats then we just small a big flame-ball, smoke, everything - there was an engine next to a car that was on fire. Everything was just manic; flames, fire, everything," he said.